13-letter words containing l, e, c
- border collie — a medium-sized breed of collie with a silky usually black-and-white coat: used mainly as sheepdogs
- border police — the force in charge of policing a border
- boroglyceride — any compound containing boric acid and glycerol, used chiefly as an antiseptic.
- bottlenecking — a narrow entrance or passageway.
- bouillon cube — A bouillon cube is a solid cube made from dried meat or vegetable juices and other flavorings. Bouillon cubes are used to add flavor to dishes such as stews and soups.
- bounced flash — a flash bounced off a reflective surface, as a ceiling or wall, to illuminate a subject indirectly.
- bouncy castle — A bouncy castle is a large object filled with air, often in the shape of a castle, which children play on at a fairground or other outdoor event.
- bow collector — a sliding current collector, consisting of a bow-shaped strip mounted on a hinged framework, used on trains, etc, to collect current from an overhead-wire
- boycott apple — (legal) Some time before 1989, Apple Computer, Inc. started a lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, claiming they had breeched Apple's copyright on the look and feel of the Macintosh user interface. In December 1989, Xerox failed to sue Apple Computer, claiming that the software for Apple's Lisa computer and Macintosh Finder, both copyrighted in 1987, were derived from two Xerox programs: Smalltalk, developed in the mid-1970s and Star, copyrighted in 1981. Apple wanted to stop people from writing any program that worked even vaguely like a Macintosh. If such look and feel lawsuits succeed they could put an end to free software that could substitute for commercial software. In the weeks after the suit was filed, Usenet reverberated with condemnation for Apple. GNU supporters Richard Stallman, John Gilmore and Paul Rubin decided to take action against Apple. Apple's reputation as a force for progress came from having made better computers; but The League for Programming Freedom believed that Apple wanted to make all non-Apple computers worse. They therefore campaigned to discourage people from using Apple products or working for Apple or any other company threatening similar obstructionist tactics (e.g. Lotus and Xerox). Because of this boycott the Free Software Foundation for a long time didn't support Macintosh Unix in their software. In 1995, the LPF and the FSF decided to end the boycott.
- brace molding — keel1 (def 6).
- bracket clock — a small clock designed to be placed on a bracket or shelf.
- breech-loader — a firearm that is loaded at the breech
- breechloading — loaded at the breech.
- broccoli rabe — a plant, Brassica rapa ruvo, of which the slightly bitter, dark-green leaves and clustered flower buds are eaten as a vegetable.
- brussels lace — a fine lace with a raised or appliqué design
- bubble column — A bubble column is a reactor in which a gas bubbles up through a liquid or slurry.
- bûche de noël — a French Christmas cake made from a thin layer of spongecake that is rolled up and frosted so as to resemble a decorative Yule log
- bucket ladder — a series of buckets that move in a continuous chain, used to dredge riverbeds, etc, or to excavate land
- bulkhead deck — the uppermost continuous deck in the hull of a vessel, forming watertight compartments with the main transverse bulkheads.
- bullace grape — the thick-skinned musk-scented purple grape produced by this plant: used to make wine
- burnham scale — the salary scale for teachers in English state schools, which is revised periodically
- buster collar — a round collar, similar to a lampshade in shape, that is fitted round the neck of an animal or bird, for example to prevent it removing or interfering with a dressing or other treatment
- butcher block — designating or of a thick slab made by gluing together strips of hardwood, as maple or oak, used for counter and table tops, etc.
- butcher linen — a strong, heavy fabric made of rayon or rayon and cotton with a linen finish, constructed in plain weave.
- butter cooler — an earthenware container, consisting of a dish and cover, used to keep butter cool
- butyl acetate — a colourless liquid with a fruity odour, existing in four isomeric forms. Three of the isomers are important solvents for cellulose lacquers. Formula: CH3COOC4H9
- byte compiler — byte-code compiler
- cab rank rule — the rule that obliges barristers to take on any client in strict rotation
- cable molding — a molding in the form of a rope.
- cable railway — a railway on which individual cars are drawn along by a strong cable or metal chain operated by a stationary motor
- cable release — a short length of flexible cable, used to operate the shutter of a camera without shaking it
- cable tramway — tramway (def 4).
- caesium clock — a type of atomic clock that uses the frequency of radiation absorbed in changing the spin of electrons in caesium atoms
- cakes and ale — the good things of life; worldly pleasures
- calabash tree — a tropical American evergreen tree, Crescentia cujete, that produces large round gourds: family Bignoniaceae
- calamity jane — real name Martha Canary. ?1852–1903, US frontierswoman, noted for her skill at shooting and riding
- calcariferous — having a spur or spurs
- calcium oxide — a white crystalline base used in the production of calcium hydroxide and bleaching powder and in the manufacture of glass, paper, and steel. Formula: CaO
- calcium-oxide — Also called burnt lime, calcium oxide, caustic lime, calx, quicklime. a white or grayish-white, odorless, lumpy, very slightly water-soluble solid, CaO, that when combined with water forms calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) obtained from calcium carbonate, limestone, or oyster shells: used chiefly in mortars, plasters, and cements, in bleaching powder, and in the manufacture of steel, paper, glass, and various chemicals of calcium.
- calendar year — A calendar year is a period of twelve months from January 1 to December 31. Calendar year is often used in business to compare with the financial year.
- calf's tongue — a molding having pendent, tonguelike members in relief against a flat or molded surface.
- calico flower — a Brazilian woody vine, Aristolochia elegans, of the birthwort family, having large, solitary, white-spotted, purple flowers.
- call sb names — If someone calls you names, they insult you by saying unpleasant things to you or about you.
- call the tune — to be in control of the proceedings
- call the turn — to predict successfully
- call to order — to request to be quiet, as to start (a meeting)
- call-by-value — (CBV) An evaluation strategy where arguments are evaluated before the function or procedure is entered. Only the values of the arguments are passed and changes to the arguments within the called procedure have no effect on the actual arguments as seen by the caller. See applicative order reduction, call-by-value-result, strict evaluation, call-by-name, lazy evaluation.
- called strike — a pitch not swung at by a batter but ruled a strike by the umpire.
- calliper rule — a measuring instrument having two parallel jaws, one fixed at right angles to the end of a calibrated scale and the other sliding along it
- callisthenics — light exercises designed to promote general fitness, develop muscle tone, etc